WWE TLC 2015: B/R Expert Match Predictions and Analysis
WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs 2015 closes out the calendar year as WWE begins to make its way toward WrestleMania season. That closure can't come soon enough.
WWE has limped to the finish line in 2015 behind historically low TV ratings for the company's flagship program, Raw, the absence of Superstars Seth Rollins, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Cesaro and Randy Orton for a multitude of reasons and a general apathy for the product so pronounced that WWE legend Mick Foley questioned his fandom on Facebook.
Bleacher Report's Ryan Dilbert wrote that this is "usual malaise" for WWE as it flips the calendar. If true, fans shouldn't expect anything special to come from the final pay-per-view of the year as the company has had little time to build meaningful feuds and has one eye toward The Road to WrestleMania.
Nevertheless, Sunday's pay-per-view could still offer a surprise or two. The possibility exists that WWE Creative reverses its month-long (or longer, depending on whom you ask) slump and delivers a worthwhile event that captivates and surprises. After all, the TLC concept has enough opportunities for WWE Superstars in any match to steal the spotlight.
From the inaugural show in 2009 featuring Chris Jericho and Big Show defending their tag team titles against Shawn Michaels and Triple H to last year's Intercontinental Championship match between Dolph Ziggler and Luke Harper, the event has given the WWE Universe some notable moments.
So who will be victorious in TD Garden in Boston on Sunday night at WWE TLC 2015? Who will we be talking about come Monday morning? The Bleacher Report Expert Panel is here with its predictions for the final pay-per-view of the year.
Expert Lineup for WWE TLC 2015
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We've brought together an all-star lineup of Bleacher Report's WWE writers to answer the tough questions about the WWE landscape and provide predictions for each match on the WWE TLC 2015 card.
This month's lineup includes:
- Brad Jones (@beardjones).
- Anthony Mango (@ToeKneeManGo), founder of SmarkOutMoment.com and host of the podcast Smack Talk.
- Aaron Bower (@aaronbower)
- Erik Beaston (@ErikBeaston).
- The Doctor Chris Mueller (@BR_Doctor).
- And yours truly, James Moffat (@jamesmoffat).
Let's dive right into WWE TLC 2015 questions and predictions. Brad Jones secures the top of the order after posting a perfect record in our Survivor Series predictions while also forecasting that a Roman Reigns win wouldn't be the last thing we'd see to close out the show.
Tie up your laces and get ready to rumble. The predictions start now.
Bonus Question #1
2 of 11
Q: We’re starting off the questioning with a curveball. John Cena, Brock Lesnar or Randy Orton: Which of these Superstars do you most miss most on WWE programming?
Brad Jones (BJ): Brock Lesnar. WWE needs to break its weekly programming out of the rut it’s in, and that calls for change. Cena and Orton are both part of the standard stuff we’ve been seeing for a decade. Lesnar, on the other hand, has an aura around him that’s quite unlike anyone else on the roster. Used as a special attraction, he’s a great asset to have on hand.
Anthony Mango (AM): This may be an unpopular opinion, but John Cena. Easily. Brock Lesnar is undoubtedly a huge star, but his act wears thin to me after a while, and I think he's best as a rare attraction. Randy Orton hasn't wowed me in a long time, and if he were still here, I think he would just be in a generic feud with Alberto Del Rio that would bore me to tears. John Cena, on the other hand, has had some of the best matches of his career in 2015, and I'd love to see that trend continue.
Erik Beaston (EB): I think fans are realizing just how much stability John Cena brings to WWE programming. Does that mean he should be in the main event every week, overcoming the odds and remaining WWE’s top hero? Not by any stretch of the imagination. But there is a certain level of quality fans can expect from Cena, especially here in 2015, that has been missing since he departed from the show after Hell in a Cell. While some may have wished him good riddance, this writer cannot wait until he returns to television, if only to right the ship a bit.
James Moffat (JM): John Cena. The best part of WWE programming in 2015 were Cena's U.S. open challenges. While there was little doubt Cena would prevail in any match, they provided plenty of suspense, mostly in the form of who would answer the call each week. Cena and his opponents—Cesaro, Neville, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Stardust and Dean Ambrose among others—gave wrestling fans great matches week in and week out. The love-hate relationship Cena has with the crowd was always entertaining, as was his acknowledgement of that dichotomy.
Aaron Bower (AB): It has to be Brock Lesnar, no question. Although John Cena and Randy Orton are major pulls for WWE at any time of the year, the lure of Lesnar being on any show is a massive boost for the company. Thankfully, with WrestleMania season around the corner, Lesnar should be back sooner rather than later. How they fit him into a confusing-looking world title scene is anyone’s guess, though.
Chris Mueller (CM): Randy Orton by a mile. John Cena is in need of a break to come back refreshed, and Lesnar is best in small doses. Orton’s injury is unfortunate, but when he comes back, he will get a massive pop and make a huge impact.
Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
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Q: True or False: Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens should feud for the Intercontinental Championship through WrestleMania 32.
BJ: False. In theory, a four-month feud between Ambrose and Owens would be great fun, but it’s actually been rather dull so far. There’s no hook to this rivalry beyond the fact Ambrose is gunning for the Intercontinental Championship—the same road he headed down this time last year when there was nothing more compelling for him to do on the road to WrestleMania. If both men could let loose and deliver what they’re clearly capable of, this would be a really engaging feud.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens.
AM: False. Both of them are great, but this feud doesn't have that much staying power. They've been feuding since before Survivor Series, and I just can't imagine still being into it for half a year. Owens needs to defend the title against Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 32, and Ambrose needs to win the Royal Rumble to challenge for the top prize.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens.
EB: False. Ambrose and Owens will have a series of excellent wrestling matches, but in the absence of any real story between the two, it feels very much like another placeholder feud for two guys without anything else better to do. It is yet another example of WWE Creative getting lazy with the way it uses its talent, not some shimmer of hope that the IC title will somehow be rejuvenated again, as some may suggest.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens.
JM: Absolutely true. The entertainment value of an Owens-Ambrose feud could easily trump the heavyweight championship scene throughout WrestleMania season. Both are world-class wrestlers and excellent performers who elicit raucous responses from crowds. Owens and Ambrose could anchor the midcard for the foreseeable future. Let them go their separate ways after WrestleMania 32 with a clear winner anchoring the midcard and the loser heading into the main event picture.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens.
AB: True. There will be some who say Ambrose and Owens should be destined for greater things, but this has all the hallmarks of a majorly exciting feud. They’re two of WWE’s finest workers without question, and with this match at TLC getting little promotion, there’s definitely the scope for more storyline development in the weeks and months to come. This one has to continue.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens.
CM: False. While an extended feud would be good for both men, it shouldn’t last several months. At most, this is a three-PPV feud. Ambrose needs to get back into the main event picture, especially now Rollins and Orton are both on the shelf.
Match Prediction: Kevin Owens.
Paige vs. Charlotte (WWE Divas Championship)
4 of 11
Q: Can Charlotte overtake Sasha Banks as the best heel in the Divas division?
BJ: True. Banks has a problem that Charlotte does not—she’s rapidly rising in popularity among fans. She’s got the sort of charisma that can undercut a heel, and it’s something she’ll have to work to overcome in the next few months. Charlotte is better suited being the cocky villain than a fan favourite in peril, so it’s in her interests to reposition her character slightly.
Match Prediction: Charlotte.
AM: Anything is possible, but Charlotte's potential heel turn is coming about for the wrong reasons. Instead of fans clamoring to hate her, they just aren't loving her, which isn't the same thing. What matters more isn't whether Charlotte is a heel or babyface but who she's up against and whether that feud has any chemistry. Anything revolving around her repeating "woo" nonstop just isn't going to work, heel or face.
Match Prediction: Charlotte. While WWE wishes everyone would cheer, most fans will just be excited that whatever match comes on next is about to start.
EB: False. Sasha Banks understands the nuances that go along with being a heel. She gets the mannerisms, the body language and the facial expressions. She understands when and when not to demonstrate fire. She will slap the ever-loving hell out of her opponent and talk trash about it right afterward. She is the best heel in the Divas division—maybe on the entire roster—and it’s not even close. Charlotte only wishes she could be half the heel The Boss is.
Match Prediction: Charlotte.
JM: That's the direction WWE is headed, so the inevitable answer is yes; Charlotte will become the Divas division's top heel. In reality, Sasha's character is so well-defined and her personality is so in tune with that nothing Charlotte does will ever top heel Sasha. But that's the problem with WWE's handling of its Divas. To the creative team, the heel-face roles are interchangeable. It's a shame.
Match Prediction: Charlotte.
AB: No way. I’m a big fan of how WWE has played the slow approach with its booking of Banks, as her incredible winning streak has seriously gone under the radar. There will be a time when that changes, though, and Banks will emerge as a legitimate threat at the head of the division. Charlotte does seem better suited to the heel role, but the title of best heel will always belong to The Boss. You feel?
Match Prediction: Paige.
CM: Yes, but only because Banks will turn babyface at some point. The crowd loves her too much, and at some point, WWE will be forced to listen to them. Banks can keep the same attitude and direct her insults toward heels while Charlotte becomes the same heel character we saw her play in NXT.
Match Prediction: Charlotte.
Jack Swagger vs. Alberto Del Rio (WWE United States Championship)
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Q: In 2014, Ryan Dilbert wrote about the underwhelming gimmick that is the WWE chairs match. What is your favorite—or more appropriately, least hated—chairs match of all time?
BJ: The Big Show vs. Mark Henry one, I guess. It had two things going for it: It was short and the Daniel Bryan cash-in straight afterward was good fun. That being said, it was a horrible match, and it’s a horrible stipulation. Retire the chairs match.
Match Prediction: Alberto Del Rio.
AM: Do the old games of Musical Chairs I would play as a child count? Those were actually entertaining at the time and somehow also more logical.
Match Prediction: Jack Swagger has no shot whatsoever in winning this belt. Sorry, Jack. Alberto Del Rio retains.
EB: The Big Show and Sheamus had a hellish chairs match at TLC in December 2012 that was the last in a series of outstanding wrestling matches between them. They worked Hell in a Cell prior to that bout, as well as Survivor Series, and they culminated their rivalry in that hard-hitting, high-impact match. That's still the best chairs match to date, from two unlikely participants.
Match Prediction: Alberto Del Rio.
JM: Undertaker vs. Batista at WWE TLC 2009 is probably my least hated chairs match, but they're all pretty abysmal. The stipulation matches associated with TLC each have a definitive ending: You either climb the ladder for your prize and win or get slung through a table and lose. A chairs match simply adds a weapon to a wrestler's arsenal—one that is ill-fitting in today's WWE, which has no use for chair shots to the head or bloody faces.
Match Prediction: Alberto Del Rio in a snoozer.
AB: Probably The Undertaker’s victory against Batista at the inaugural event way back in 2009. As Ryan rightly said, there have been some dreadful chairs matches in the past, but the first of its kind was probably the best. There was good depth to the storyline, and it was a pretty decent match to watch. But the chairs match is certainly one stipulation that could do with being forgotten pretty quickly.
Match Prediction: Alberto Del Rio.
CM: Batista vs. The Undertaker from the first TLC PPV. The two of them had so many great matches, and the ridiculous gimmick didn’t stop them from producing another entertaining bout in 2009. Other than that, most of the chairs matches we have seen have been disappointing.
Match Prediction: Alberto Del Rio.
Bonus Question #2
6 of 11Q: Worse gimmick: Adam Rose’s The Rosebush segments, Stardust and Titus O’Neil's backstage promos or whatever Becky Lynch’s character is supposed to be?
BJ: The Rosebush is the worst for me, although I like all four competitors mentioned in the question. My problem with the segment is that it’s too broad. Sniping at several superstars every week just seems meaningless. We’re not seeing any new feuds set up by it, and it doesn’t tell us anything more about Rose other than he’s a baddie and doesn’t like the other wrestlers on the roster.
AM: Becky Lynch doesn't have a bad gimmick but rather a team of writers that doesn't wish to let her do her thing. I can't say the same for the other examples. As bad as the Stardust angle is right now, that's not as cringeworthy as The Rosebush. After several failed ideas, it's time to let Adam Rose go or just revert him to an already-in-the-ring jobber on NXT who is even lower in the ranks than what's his face or that guy with the trunks. "Vacant" has held more titles this year alone than Adam Rose ever will.
EB: I’m offended Becky Lynch was even brought up in the same breath as these other two. The Stardust-O’Neil stuff has been awful, but The Rosebush segments have been flat embarrassing, the likes of which I would be ashamed to show friends unfamiliar with the show. They are a cheap attempt by WWE to pick up on the TMZ craze, which hasn’t even been a craze for three years now. Want further proof of their absurdity, take a screenshot of Michael Cole at the conclusion of this past Monday’s show and check out the look of disgust on his face. That tells you how stupid the entire ordeal is.
JM: Becky Lynch's wise-cracking sidekick character is so bad I almost forget how wonderful she was in NXT. Thank goodness for the WWE Network. The Stardust-O'Neill dynamic could be so much more, and I wish WWE let those two just have fun with their interaction backstage instead of letting it spill into the ring like it did on Raw. But The Rosebush is so insanely terrible I find myself longing for Adam Rose's release so he can actually do something productive in a competing company.
AB: Easy choice for me here, and that’s Adam Rose. I’ve always liked the idea of Titus O’Neil getting a bit of a push as a singles competitor, so that one works for me. Plus I’m a fan of Becky Lynch, and although she’s in a confusing place at the moment, that should be cleared up this Sunday with some direction concerning Paige’s match with Charlotte. So Rose gets the nod here as the worst gimmick. It has little point and doesn’t fit in with anything WWE has going on right now.
CM: Adam Rose’s Rosebush. I get what they are trying to do with Rose, and it’s great he is getting another chance, but of the three things listed, Rose’s segment is the weakest. Becky Lynch will eventually be used properly, and the combination of Stardust and Titus O’Neil will continue to get better as time goes on just like Goldust and Booker T back in the day.
Rusev vs. Ryback
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Q: True or False: WWE is mishandling the Rusev-Lana storyline once again.
BJ: True. As unfortunate as it is to say it, the toothpaste may well be out of the tube in terms of Lana’s character. She was pitch perfect as the domineering ice queen, but any edge she had has been thoroughly squandered over the last several months. Rusev has all the tools he needs to reach the main event regardless, but there was a much easier route for him to take.
Match Prediction: Rusev.
AM: Neither false nor true. WWE is giving them nothing to work with, but Lana and Rusev also aren't bringing anything to the table. It's a two-way street, and both sides of the agreement are failing.
Match Prediction: Rusev has to win since he's in the League of Nations. It's a shame everyone forgets King Barrett is as well.
EB: True. The second WWE Creative gave into the “we want Lana” chants and rushed their split, any successful angle involving those two died a sad death. There is nothing that can be done to salvage their story because it is so muddled, mangled and incoherent fans really have no idea what to make of it. That Lana isn’t even wearing the same business suits and is allowing her accent to slip more than ever before suggests she is not invested in the story the company is trying to tell. It is an ugly situation all the way around.
Match Prediction: Rusev.
JM: True. At the height of their partnership, Lana and Rusev were strong figures who complemented each other. Their break-up was mishandled, and injuries left WWE fans with no real resolution. This puppy-love angle is nauseating and unbelievable. Rusev condemns, chides and verbally assaults Lana for months, then she willingly jumps into his arms? She has become the victim running back to her abuser, a perception that WWE should completely steer clear of. WWE needs to bring back that formidable duo that tore through the WWE roster.
Match Prediction: Rusev.
AB: All kinds of true. There’s probably an element of trying to repair the damage with the leaking of their real-life engagement, but we don’t need to see a love story being played out every week. Rusev is a European monster and a guy who used to be unstoppable. Now he’s in love with his former manager, and it doesn’t really fit.
Match Prediction: Ryback.
CM: False. I think people need to be patient. Rusev and Lana only just returned, and they need time to establish themselves again. Rusev’s alliance with the League of Nations will take priority for the time being, and while that happens, Lana can continue to evolve her heel character.
Match Prediction: Ryback.
The Wyatt Family vs. The ECW Originals
8 of 11
Q: Give the WWE Universe a compelling reason to be interested in this match.
BJ: While ECW reunions have been played out beyond belief at this point, this bout actually stands out as one of the better prospects on the card. There’s sure to be some great table spots and a lot of chaos. Given enough time—and a large-enough furniture budget—this could be a match that entertains on the night and sparks some much-needed rehabilitation for the ailing Wyatt Family.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family.
AM: I'll give you two reasons. First, do you see what else we have on offer? With a roster this thin, somehow this has become one of the most interesting things going on right now. Secondly, this is an eight-man elimination match, which means there's a potential for seven different tables spots. At the very least, those should be fun.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family have this in the bag, as nobody's putting Braun Strowman through a table.
EB: Um...tables? The story thus far has been little more than a reason to trot out the ECW faithful for yet another reunion tour. Instead of helping a depleted roster, it has accentuated just how shallow the talent pool is, especially given the fact the last time fans saw any of these guys, it was in TNA, a company heavily criticized for its handling of the talent at its disposal. This should be a demolition in favor of The Wyatt Family.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family.
JM: Personally, I want to see whether WWE Creative decides to bury the Wyatt Family deeper or whether Bray Wyatt and his flock are shown to be the monsters they can be. Anything less than a total dismantling of the ECW Originals would be a disappointment and would go a long way in determining the future direction of The Wyatt Family.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family.
AB: It should be brutal. In this modern era of PG television, fans crave a throwback to the old days and a real brutal match. This bout will bring physicality, extremity and some real intensity from start to finish. The inclusion of Tommy Dreamer and Rhyno should hopefully see them not become too inhibited, as you feel the whole point of their presence is to turn the match extreme. On the other side, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan seem perfectly capable of bringing that to the bout too, so this has all the makings of a match fans won’t want to miss.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family.
CM: The best reason to be interested in this match is that it looks like The Wyatt Family will finally come out on top in a feud. For too long, Wyatt has been booked strong only to lose the big matches in his storylines. This time feels different. The Dudley Boyz don’t need the win to retain their credibility, but the Wyatts do.
Match Prediction: The Wyatt Family.
Lucha Dragons vs. The Usos vs. The New Day (WWE Tag Team Championship)
9 of 11
Q: Fill in the blank: There is a _____ percent chance WWE takes the tag team titles off The New Day at WWE TLC 2015.
BJ: Twenty percent. While The New Day are still the hottest act in the tag division, it’s unclear where things are headed. I’d expect the champions to retain here, with the other two teams competing to see who can cement their position as the top prospect for a fan-favourite duo. It will certainly be interesting to see what Kalisto can do in this sort of match.
Match Prediction: The New Day.
AM: Sixty-six-point-six percent if we're being honest about the math. But I would argue the more likely answer is somewhere closer to 25 percent. The New Day is the best thing going for the company right now, and although they don't need the titles to continue their act, they'll need to be at the forefront of the division going into WrestleMania 32. If they will continue to be at the top, why not just keep the belts on them so it means more when someone else beats them? Plus, what other heels are ready to feud with The Usos or The Lucha Dragons?
Match Prediction: The New Day retain through shenanigans as this match allows for Xavier Woods to get involved and hopefully play the trombone at the top of the ladder.
EB: Sixty-five percent. The problem with this scenario is Vince McMahon is very much feeling like, "I’m the almighty and know better than everyone else." Knowing fans love New Day and the diehards consider that trio one of the only saving graces of the show, I would not be surprised whatsoever to see The Usos take the titles just to really stick it to the audience and continue on with the chairman’s grand plans for mediocrity and frustration among his product’s fanbase.
Match Prediction: The New Day, just out of sheer stubbornness on my part.
JM: About 20 percent seems right. The only reason to take the titles from The New Day would be to boost The Usos, who are crowd favorites. But if WWE didn't let The Dudley Boyz take the titles upon their return to the company, I can't see why The Lucha Dragons or The Usos would be given that opportunity. The New Day as champions is too good for both the division and the WWE as a whole.
Match Prediction: The New Day.
AB: Zero, although perhaps that’s just me being hopeful. I see no reason why The New Day lose the belts here, as they’ve got plenty of distance left in them as champions. They need a credible, permanent threat to challenge them at the head of the division, and that could be one of those two teams given the correct booking. But they’re not in a serious-enough feud to drop the titles right now.
Match Prediction: The New Day.
CM: Sixty-six percent. The New Day have been outstanding in recent months, but their run with the titles doesn’t need to be that long. They were better, at least in my opinion, when they were chasing the championships. I think The Usos will become champions again and continue their feud with The New Day through the beginning of 2016.
Match Prediction: The Usos.
Roman Reigns vs. Sheamus (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
10 of 11Q: For the better part of a year, WWE has made its world champion look weak, a trend that started with Seth Rollins and continues with Sheamus. What do you think is the motivation behind such a move, and do you see this trend continuing?
BJ: Rollins was great as a "weak" champion, because it seemed like a character trait specific to him. However, it’s a worrying sign to see that quality passed along with the world title. Sheamus isn’t as believable in the same role as Rollins because he’s big and brutish in the ring—he’d be much better used as a dominant champion who uses the League of Nations to gain a thoroughly unfair advantage.
Match Prediction: Sheamus.
AM: I imagine WWE is unwilling to budge from the mentality that heels need to be weak and can't win clean or else that will devalue the babyfaces. That requires most matches to end with a face winning clean or—more likely—a heel cheating to win in order to drag out a story. Likewise, the company probably thinks that if a heel champion looks weak, the fans will eagerly anticipate the inevitable title change that could happen any time. If someone looks like they could always potentially lose, then there could potentially be a new champion. The trouble is it's a lose-lose scenario, as the new champion doesn't look strong for beating someone so weak. Unfortunately, WWE will keep doing this, as the company is stuck in its ways.
Match Prediction: Sheamus will retain after receiving help from The League of Nations. The same story continues for at least another few weeks.
EB: Motivation? Is it out of line to suggest WWE Creative has no idea what it is doing that it consciously knows it is doing it? No businessman like Vince McMahon or supposed creative writers would knowingly and willingly book someone as ineffectively as they have the WWE world heavyweight champion over the last year. It is ridiculous, unforgivable and, unfortunately, I certainly see the trend continuing well into the future. That is unless Reigns wins the title in the immediate future and begins returning credibility to it.
Match Prediction: Sheamus.
JM: I don't think there's a motivation. I think WWE Creative simply doesn't remember how to appropriately portray a heel as champion. Heels as champions should be underhanded, conniving, sinister and opportunistic. WWE has done this with both Sheamus and Rollins. The problem is, heels also need to be strong and ruthless, which have been the missing components in the writing for the aforementioned Superstars. The only way to change this is to have a new voice lead the creative direction. The could happen one of two ways: WWE Creative gets an injection of fresh ideas and the leeway to run with those ideas or an existing Superstar who is so popular—Ambrose, Owens or even Rollins again—is allowed to take the ball and run with it.
Match Prediction: Roman Reigns.
AB: With Rollins, it seemed like they were weakening him to set up a match with Triple H, but with Sheamus, it’s confusing. It has to be stopped, as if Sheamus’ title reign is to be a success, he has to dominate WWE for the next few weeks at least. We need to see the League of Nations by his side and the rest of the roster fear his stable with him at the top. WWE needs a dominant champion, and although Sheamus might not be everyone’s pick, the company needs to roll with it.
Match Prediction: Sheamus.
CM: I don’t see this as a new trend. Heel champions are not supposed to be dominant. They are supposed to be cowards who take the easy way out and keep the title by the skin of their teeth. This has been the case for decades, and heel champions will continue to be portrayed that way so fans have a reason to keep booing them.
Match Prediction: Sheamus.
Bonus Question #3
11 of 11
Q: Which WWE Superstar are you most disappointed is not slated for WWE TLC 2015? And since it’s a gimmick pay-per-view, I’m adding a stipulation: You CANNOT choose Sasha Banks.
BJ: Becky Lynch. Her interactions with Charlotte over the past few weeks have been the first time she’s been able to develop some character since she joined the main roster. I would have liked to see Lynch get a title shot at TLC to build on that rather than trying to juggle her issue with Charlotte with Paige as the No. 1 Contender.
AM: If injured stars are allowed to be chosen, then definitely Seth Rollins. I'm not into Sheamus as my champion, but Rollins could put on a good show. If injured stars are off limits, then I'd go with Becky Lynch. Involving her in this Charlotte and Paige feud did nothing if it wasn't made into a Triple Threat match, which maybe could have added something interesting to an otherwise boring storyline.
EB: Wise to our tricks, huh, James? Anyway, I am going to say King Barrett, if only because he is involved in the League of Nations faction, has headlined television as of late but finds himself left off the show. He is the only major, significant star who does not have a match, though that should be of no real surprise given how poorly booked he has been since 2010. It's only fitting that on the fifth anniversary of his literal burying by John Cena, he does not have a match on a show where WWE Creative seemingly squeezed every other relevant star on the card—and Jack Swagger.
JM: Man, Sasha has been my go-to for the closing question since we started these expert panels. I didn't think this one through. I guess I'll go with Neville. The TLC concept, specifically a ladder match, would seem the perfect fit for his offensive arsenal. Leaving him off this show with such a fitting stipulation seems like a missed opportunity.
AB: I would normally go for Cesaro here, but as he’s injured, I’ll go for Dolph Ziggler. I’m a massive Ziggler mark, and it would have at least been fun to see him wrestle Tyler Breeze once again. But yet again, there'll be no Ziggler appearance on a pay-per-view. When will WWE learn?
CM: It’s a tie between Dolph Ziggler and Tyler Breeze. While it’s still possible they could be added to the Kickoff show, it seemed like they were on track to have at least one more PPV match. They work well together and could produce a great match with enough time. Breeze is still in his debut push, so he needs to be on the show to continue getting more exposure.
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